Castro Valley Auto Repair

No, it’s not an April Fools’ Day joke. Walnut shell blasting is a procedure for cleaning vales of the direct injection engines.  Older GDI engines (direct injection engines) were designed to improve fuel economy and power through direct injection – they injected fuel directly into the combustion chamber. Unfortunately, over time this design can cause carbon buildup on the valves. Carbon buildup in turn, can cause poor drivability, hesitation, and can cause the check engine light to be illuminated by the onboard computer.  Walnut shell blasting is the solution.  Special equipment uses finely ground walnut shells to “blast” (using air pressure) the dirty valves. Walnut shells are a good abrasive ( and biodegradable too) and they remove carbon particles leaving clean valves for your driving enjoyment. So if you drive a vehicle equipped with a GDI engine – be it a BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Kia or Mazda, we recommend having it inspected for ca ... read more

It wasn’t long ago that auto maintenance was a relatively simple task. Most guys would take machine shop at Castro Valley High, and were familiar with major subsystems of their cars. Tools were relatively inexpensive, and pretty much anybody could perform basic auto maintenance, like oil change, in their own garage. Things started changing in the 1980s, as car manufacturers introduced embedded computers to control various functions inside vehicles. The seminal event was the replacement of a carburetor with electronic fuel injection. For the first time, a critical function of an automobile was controlled by an embedded computer. Moving forward, more and more functions became computer controlled, resulting in modern cars becoming “computers-on-wheels”. Typical car sold today contains dozens of embedded computers, controlling fuel system, braking, air conditioning system, not to mention ADAS – advanced driver assistance systems – which are entirely computeri ... read more

Unfortunately the catalytic converter theft wave continues unabated. We keep reading on Nextdoor about Castro Valley catalytic converter thefts. For the past two years Adams Autoworx has been offering catalytic converter shields for Castro Valley residents. Adams Autoworx technicians can install a shield that is designed to discourage thieves from attacking your car. The process is fairly straightforward – depending on the make and model of your vehicle, we can get a shield that is designed specifically for your car, or a “universal” shield that can fit most cars. Our technicians will install it and make sure it is fully secured, and your car will be ready to go – shield installation can be completed in less than a day. If you are concerned about catalytic converter theft, we highly recommend getting the catalytic converter shield installed – for your peace of mind, and to protect your vehicle. To get more information about catalytic converter shield ins ... read more

Changing a dead car battery used to be simple. As a matter of fact, if you could lift it, you could change it. Not so anymore.  As the vehicles get more and more computers, internal networks, and sophisticated energy management systems, changing a battery has become more and more complicated.  For example, many cars, including BMW and Audi vehicles, not only require a new battery, but also a professional digital tool to program / register the battery. This tool is required to alert the car that a new battery is in (and to provide the Battery Control Module (BCM) with the correct parameters for correctly charging the new battery).  As cars get smarter, more and more functions get computerized. So as the battery ages, the alternator (which recharges car battery), is adapting the charge it delivers to the fading capabilities of the battery. When you put a new battery in, without alerting the alternator to the change, you could end up killing the new battery by overchargi ... read more

Are your vehicle’s brakes due for brake pad replacement? Other than metal-to-metal grinding noise when braking (that’s a dead giveaway), how does one know it’s time for brake pad replacement? At Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley, we measure the thickness of the brake pads. Most manufacturers recommend brake pad replacement between 1 mm and 4 mm. But to measure the brake pad thickness we get the car up on a lift. What clues can you use at home to figure out if it’s time for brake pad replacement? Some of the newer vehicles are full of electronic sensors – they may turn on a dashboard light indicating it’s time for brake service.  Squeaking or squealing while braking usually indicates it’s time to visit your friendly mechanic.  Vibration when braking – this often indicates warped rotors, and typically this comes about along with worn out brake pads. If your vehicle exhibits any of the above symptoms, bring it t ... read more

Your Lexus is a beautiful luxury vehicle, in fact these days “Lexus” is synonymous with “luxury”. However, even a car as well made as a Lexus may be in need of repair sometimes. Regular service will help to maintain your Lexus in peak condition and lessen chances of unexpected malfunctions.  Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure your Lexus is running smoothly: Follow factory recommended service schedule Regular oil changes are vital to your Lexus Keep tires inflated to manufacturer recommended pressure Ask your mechanic about brake fluid exchange and transmission fluid exchange The best piece of advice when it comes to Lexus repair is to take it to a trusted auto mechanic for routine maintenance and inspection. If you catch any potential problems early on, you will end up saving money in the long run. Then, you can enjoy driving your Lexus for many years to come!  At Adams Autoworx in Castro Valley we offer not only full range Lexus mainte ... read more